Signal-torch.



PATENTD MR. 14, ww.

F. &. W. DUTGHBR.

SIGNAL TRGH.

APPLICATION Hman AUG. zo, moz.

H0 MODEL.

Ntra' STATES,

TENT syrien.

FRANK DUTCHER AND WARREN DUTCHER, OF WEST NEWTON,'

y PENNSYLVANIA.

SIGNALJORCH.'

SPGIFIGATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 725,231, dated April 14, 1903.

' Application iiled August 29, 1902. Serial No. 121,520. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be -it known that we, FRANK DUTCHER and WARREN DUTCHER, citizens of the United States,residin g at West Newton, in the county of Westmoreland and State of Pennsylvania,

have invented a new and useful Signal-Torch, of which the following is a specification.

The invention relates to improvements in signal-torches.

A further object of the invention'is to en' able the plug at the lower end of the torch to be rmly secured inthe'tube and to arrange the quick-igniting material so that it may be conveniently ignited and also to cause the tire accordance with this invention.

to be quickly fed or conducted to the pyrotechnic compound. v

The invention consists in the construct-ion and novel combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and pointed out in the claims hereto appended.

In th'e drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of a. signal torch or fusee constructed'in Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view, partly in' elevation, the cap being removed. Fig'. 3 is an enlarged longitudinal sectional view of the upper portion of the torch, illustrating themanner of securing the cap to thetube. Fig. 4 is a detail perspective view of the cap, the waterproof strip being torn away to uncover the friction materia Like numerals of reference designate corresponding parts in all the figures of, drawings.

1 designates a tube constructed of paper'or other suitable material and designed to contain a pyrotechnic compound 2, which may be of any desired character, and the lower end of the tube is closed by a plug 3, of wood or.

any other suitable material. The plug 3, which is preferably rounded, is provided 'with a reduced inner portion 4, fitting within the lower end of thetube'and provided with annular grooves 5, designed to be filled with glue lor other adhesive uiaterial, whereby the plug 'lhe is securely fastened within the tube. plug is also provided with a spike 6, having a pointed outer end to enable it to be readily embedded in a cross-tie or in thegr'ound or a bank adjacent to the track for supporting the torch or fusee in an upright position. The spike -is embedded in the plug when the latter is constructed of wood; but it may be secu red to the plug in any other suitable manner, as will be readily understood.;

The tube is provided near its'upper end withN an opening 7 and a disk 8 is secured within the tube by glue or other adhesive material and is arranged slightly below the side opening of the tube and is provided with a central opening 9. i The space above the disk, which is constructed of paper or other suitable material, is filled with quick' burningorigniting material-10, which is placed in vthe upper endvof the tube in a plastic condition and is forced outward through thesidc opening of the tube to enable the torch to be ignited by rubbing the friction material hereinafter described against either the side 0f the tube or the end thereof. The disk may be provided with one or more apertures, which are for the purpose of feeding the fire quickly to the pyrotechnic compound.

The upper end of the tube is closed by a tubular cap 11, constructed of paper or other` suitablevmaterial and provided at its upper end witha plug 12, of wood orother material. The plug212, which is reduced, as shown, to it into the upper endof the body of the cap, is secured to the same by tacks or othersuitable means after the said body'portion of the cap has beenapplied to the tube.- The tube is provided with a cord .13, secured at one end between the layers of the paper of the'tube and adapted to be drawn ,outward through .the body portion of tbe cap. After the cord has been drawn outward th'roughthe body portion of the cap the plug is fitted in the outer end of the latter and is secured to the same, the cord being interposed between the plug and the body portion of the cap, as clearly shownin Fig. 3. The free endLof the cord is preferably coveredvby a label 14, and the said cord is adapted to retainthe cap on IOO the tube until sufficient force is applied to quick-igniting material to ignite the torch,

.bel 14.

and the two materials may be of any desired chemical composition, as will be readily understood. The friction material 15 is protected and rendered damp or water proof by means of a strip 16 of Waterproof material, which is arranged over the friction material 15, being secured in .such positior by the la- The label 14 is constructed of paper or other material, and the waterproof strip is extended beyond the inner or lower edge of the label to enable it to be readily grasped and torn off to expose the friction material', as illustrated in Eig. 4 of the drawings. The label is pasted or otherwise secured to the tube, and the friction material is easily exposed when desired.

It will be seen that the torch or fusee is exceedinglysimple and ineXpensi-vein construction, that Ait is dam p-proot, and that the cap is secu rely held on the tube to prevent the torch or fusee from being accidentally opened. It will also be seen that the torch may be ignited by rubbing the friction material on the side or end of the tube and that the fire is quickly conducted or fed to the pyrotechnic material. Furthermore, it will be seen that the plug which closes the lower end of the tube issecurely fastened within the same and effectually prevented from becoming displaced.

1. A torch or fusee ofthe class described having a tube and provided with a plug clos- -ng one `end of the tube and having an inte! rior groove adapted to contain adhesive material, substantially as described.

2. A torch or fusee of 'the' class described comprising a tube having a iexible connection attached to it, a cap litt-ing on the tube and consisting of a tubular body portion, and` a plug, the iiexible connection being extended outward through the cap and secured to the same, whereby the cap `is held on the tube,` substantially as described.

` 3. A torch or fusee ofthe class described comprising a tube, a cap fitted on the tube, and.a flexible connection secured to the cap and to the tube and arranged to hold the formeren the latter and adapted to be broken by the removal of the cap, substantially as' described. A.

4. A torch or fusee of the class described comprising a tube, a cap consisting of a tubular body and a plug, and a exible connection secured to the tube and extended through the cap between the body portion and the plug and secured to the same by the means for holding the plug in the tubular body portion, substantially as described.

5. A'torchor fusee o f the class described comprisinga tube, a cap, a flexible connection secured tothe tube and extended through the cap, and a label securing the free end of the exible connection to the tube, substantially as described.

6. A torch or fusee of the class described.

provided' with a cap having exteriorly-arranged friction materiaL'a narrow strip of waterproof material arranged over vthe friction material, and means for securing the' strip of material to the cap, and for exposing the strip and permitting thesame to be readily torn off to expose the friction material, sub.- stantially as described.

7. A torch or fusee of the class described Aprovided with a cap having exteriorlyar ranged friction material, a narrow strip of waterproof material arranged over the friction material, and a label secured to the cap and partially covering the strip, substantially as described. A

In testimony that We claim the foregoing as our own we have hereto aixed our signatures in the presence of two witnesses.

FRANK DUTCHER. WARREN DUTCHER.

Witnesses:

A. M. DICK, B. B. HUNTER. 

